"We have worked closely with UMass Lowell's engineering program. So, our new program en

engineering program. So, our new program en--ables our graduates to transfer as juniors,

ables our graduates to transfer as juniors, with as many as 71 credits of transfer."

with as many as 71 credits of transfer."

And, through the Northeast Consortium of

And, through the Northeast Consortium of Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts

Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (NECCUM), she added, students can take several

(NECCUM), she added, students can take several lower-division engineering courses at UML as

lower-division engineering courses at UML as part of the MCC curriculum.

part of the MCC curriculum.

"In the year I've been here, I have enhanced

"In the year I've been here, I have enhanced our `Introduction to Engineering' class and have

our `Introduction to Engineering' class and have added a `Statics' class," said Stein. "We are

added a `Statics' class," said Stein. "We are now offering those engineering courses

now offering those engineering courses here at Middlesex."

here at Middlesex."

One of the main goals of the revamped

One of the main goals of the revamped Engineering Program was to facilitate a seamless

Engineering Program was to facilitate a seamless transition for students. "With these changes, our

transition for students. "With these changes, our students will be ready to transfer to a university

students will be ready to transfer to a university as juniors and continue right on toward their

as juniors and continue right on toward their bachelor's degree in engineering."

bachelor's degree in engineering."

A civil engineer who served as Tewksbury's

A civil engineer who served as Tewksbury's Town Engineer for seven years, Stein joined the

Town Engineer for seven years, Stein joined the Middlesex faculty in 2014 and has even bigger

Middlesex faculty in 2014 and has even bigger plans for the program. "In the future, we may

plans for the program. "In the future, we may consider offering tracks in Computer/Electrical

consider offering tracks in Computer/Electrical Engineering, as well as Chemical Engineering.

Engineering, as well as Chemical Engineering.

"Each discipline within engineering is so

"Each discipline within engineering is so different. I'm married to an electrical engineer

different. I'm married to an electrical engineer

Two New Tracks and a Seamless

Transition to a Bachelor's Degree

FACULTY

Focus

Why is STEM important? Our future depends on it! STEM is a competitive, creative, progressively cultivating field that is only going to further expand with time. The world is developing and improving, and it is vital that we prepare our future generations for such a pursuit.

What do you like best about teaching? I love that moment when you see acknowledgement in a student's eye that they understand and connect with the material you have been discussing for some time. Instant understanding is nice, but earning the knowledge is priceless.

Favorite classroom moment? Last spring, I brought my students on a field trip to the replacement construction of a major highway bridge. I could tell they were overwhelmed and I was explaining the different components of the job. At that moment, the manager of the project told us that I had been his professor. He was very proud of where he was in his career ­ and rightfully so ­ and I knew the students were impressed, too. I told them, "That could be you in the near future!"

Michele Jodar Stein

·

Assistant Professor of STEM

ENGINEERING

and we took some of the same core courses. But

and we took some of the same core courses. But when he starts talking about his work, it's like he's

when he starts talking about his work, it's like he's speaking another language," she said, laughing.

speaking another language," she said, laughing.

The first two years of an engineering program are

The first two years of an engineering program are demanding, starting with calculus, chemistry and

demanding, starting with calculus, chemistry and physics. "When I was a student," recalled Stein,

physics. "When I was a student," recalled Stein, "I went in as a freshman with a huge class ­ and

"I went in as a freshman with a huge class ­ and only nine of us graduated. No question about it,

only nine of us graduated. No question about it, those first two years can be tough."

those first two years can be tough."

The advantage of starting at Middlesex, however,

The advantage of starting at Middlesex, however, is small class size and one-on-one attention. "At a

is small class size and one-on-one attention. "At a university, your chemistry, your physics ­ all those